Paper folding machine



M9, 194i. c, A, CALDES 2,265,894 mwa FOLDING MACHINE Fil'evd March'22, 194i) l INVENTOR @o nsanZz'zze E. Calcl'e wurm-sass ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Constantine A. Caldes, Milltown, N. J.

Application March 22, 1940, Serial No. 325,357

3 Claims. l (Cl. 270-94) This invention relates to paper folding machines and particularly to a machine for folding a strip of paper having straight parallel sides, an object being to provide a folding structure .wherein the paper may be folded a number of;

times before it leaves the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding machine wherein a plurality of groups of folding structures are provided and means for feeding a strip of paper thereto so that the strip may move successively through the respective groups and receive an individual fold as it passes through each group.

In the accompanying drawing- Fig. 1 is a side view of a paper folding machine embodying the invention;

Fig. la is an enlarged view of the discharge end of the device illustrating means for pulling the folded paper from the machine;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View through Fig. 1 on the line 3 3;

Fig, 4 is an enlarged sectional view through Fig. l on the line 4 4 Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View through Fig. 1 on the line 5 5;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view through Fig. 1 on the line 6 6;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view through Fig. 1 on the line 1 1;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view through Fig. 1 on the line 8 8;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view through Fig. 1 on the line 9 9;

Fig. 10 is a. sectional view through Fig. 1, `approximately on the line Ill-IIJ Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a short section on an enlarged scale of a folded strip of paper.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, I indicates a frame which is provided with a rectangular bar 2, preferably of metal, which is held in working position by any suitable form of support 3. A spindle 4 is mounted on the bar 2 near one end thereof so as to receive a supply of paper consisting of a roll 5 to be folded. This paper may be wound on a spool and may be of any desired width. When the paper has been folded, as indicated by the short section of folded paper 6 shown in Fig. 11, it may be wound on insulated wire to form an armor therefor. Being formed of paper the armor will not only protect the insulated wire from injury but will act as an auxiliary insulating structure for thewire.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, paper moving from the supply roll 5, passes under idler 4 and over idler 4" to a. guide I. The paper 5 has straight sides which are parallel and the strip 5 as it enters the various folding structures shown at the right in Figs. 1 and 2 passes through the substantially U-shaped guide 'I. This guide may bea comparatively stiff wire bent upon itself until it appears as shown in Fig, 3. A clamping screw 8 clamps this guide firmly in place so that one edge of the strip 5' will rest against the wearing strip 9. Wearing strip 9 is made of steel or other suitable metal and may be held in place by any desired number of screws I0. By reason of this construction and arrangement the wearing strip may be removed and replaced from time to'time. Also by reason of the fact that the clamping screw 8 is used as shown in Fig. 3, the guide I may be removed and replaced from time to time. As a matter of fact, this same idea is carried out through the various folding structures shown at the right in Figs. 1 and 2. Referring more particularly to these figures, it will be seen that there are folding groups A, B, C, D and E. This will make six layers to the folded strip 6, as shown in Fig. 11, but any number of folds or laps desired may be obtained.

When the strip 5' leaves the guide 'I, it passes over` the L-shaped member II, which turns up an edge, namely, edge I2, as shown in Fig. 4.

lIhis edge is turned approximately at right angles to the body of the strip though it might be turned a little more or even a little less without departing from the spirit of the invention. In order to hold the parts in their new position, there is provided a guiding member I3 having a at portion I4. This guiding member fits substantially flatwise against the strip 5. As the strip leaves the guiding member I3 it passes through a folding member I5, which'is provided with a U- shaped end IB, as shown in Fig. 5. This causes the turned-up edge I2 to be folded over substantially flatwise against the body of the strip 5. From the folding member I5 the strip passes to the next folding structure, namely, folding .structure B, where the operation is repeated. From the folding structure B, the strip passes to the folding structure C and the operation again repeated. The same operation takes place at groups D and E.

Between groupsv A and B there is provided a U-shaped member II which fits substantially flatwise against the strip of paper to hold the same against buckling near the wearing strip 9.

The same is true between groups B and C, namefolding groups.

ly, a pressing or guiding member I8 is provided while a guiding member IS is provided between groups C and D, and following group E is a headed member 20. From the headed member 20, the folded strip 6 extends to a suitable device Which pulls the same through the various This pulling device may be a spoon on which the finished folded paper is Wound, but preferably is a pair of steel compressingyand -pulling rollers 2| `.and Y22, -as shown in Fig. 1a. These rollers may be-drivenata desired speed by any suitable mechanism and preferably function constantly until the roll of paper 5 has been exhausted. When one roll of paper has been exhausted, another roll is -provi`dedani threaded by hand through the various groups of folding structures until the end 'is engaged by the rollers 2| and 22. The rrllimayheio any desired diameter but preferably it is approximately eighteen inches in diameter when the l'machine :starts to function. .'I'he ;paper zto be `.folded rmaybe of any'desired qualityand thickness.

:I claim:

l. :A machine for olding paper fstrips :lengthuwise .including a frame providing :a .longitudina'lly `extending .straight surface, means :carried by said frame `for :supporting V"a :Wound .strip of lpa'p'er, :a .pair lof idlers .'for :guiding `said 'strip of :paper to the'placeof folding,-andmeans carried Aby fs'aid .frame :for `supporting .-saidtstrip of apaper :for :lengthwise imovement with -one Ylongitudinal edge .thereof touching :said .surfacewhile folding :said istrip of paper .immediately :after it `leaves Ysaid idlers, 'said ldest-mentioned :means .including` a :plurality :of :groups "of folding structures for V:successively ifolding rsaid strip "of paper, reach y'of :said groups including amember rforfturnin-gzthe stantially. straight longitudinal surface, groups of folding means carried byfsaid bar for supporting said strip for lengthwise movement with one 1ongitudinal edge thereof touching said surface While folding said strip as aforesaid, each of said groups 3.15 includingi'a member for turning the other longiiso `tudinal edge portion of the strip at right angles 'totheurifolded portion thereof, a guide for holdring .said fturned @up edge portion in its turned up position, and a substantially U-shaped member-'for folding the turned up edge portion fiat- `Wisefagainst the Iunfolded portion of the strip.

.3. In amachinefor lap .foldinga strip-of Ama- -terial lengthwise upon .-itself, -a longitudinal bar constituting a r-support, .said bar presenting `a .straight .longitudinal surf ace, .guiding :means carried by said v`bar lfor supporting said strip for lengthwisgmovement'- With one .longitudinal -edge .thereof =touchingfsaidisurfaoe, means carried by 4saidbanforturning up the-opposite edge portion of the :strip -at -rightangles to the unfolded porytionof -the istrip '.inathe :movement -of .the latter, means .carried -by .said `bar -to engage said Astrip flatWise to prevent the-buckling of .the strip, and means carried by 4saidibar for 4-folding-the'turned up edge portion-ofthe strip flatwise iagainst the unfolded portion .of-.the strip.

-CQNSTANFIINE A. CALDES. 

